Relay construction



Jan. 18, 1944. E. G. BAKER 2,339,610

v RELAY CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 1s, 1941 fnslllafl'oz ,fafa/affare: A Z5 52 Patented Jan. 18, 1944.-

RELAY CONSTRUCTION Edward G.

Baker, Chicago,

lli., assixnor to Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co., Chicago,

Ill.. a corporation of Illinois l Application October 13, 1941, Serial No. 414,853

(Cl. F15-336) 2 Claims.-

This invention relates to a conventional type of electromagnetic relay including. a coil and a. core, a eld piece having an upright leg member disposed adjacent the coil, and an armature hingedly connected to the upper portion of the leg member, in registration with the end vof the core..

It has long been recognized as a desirable characteristic of relay construction that the armature be caused to seat ilat upon the end of the core, especially when alternating current is utilized, so as to eliminate hum and chatter. Such seating of the armature on the core is also desired when direct currentis employed and the relay is constructed to produce a time delay operation of the armature. If the armature is not seated flat upon the end of the core for such time delay operation, it will not .be possible to obtain the lmaximum period of timing' action. It has also been observed that when switches are mounted entirely upon the eld piece, or upon the ileld piece together with the armature, for control by actuation of the armature, it is of utmost importance to maintain a` relatively fixed relationship between the ileld piece and the core in order to insure maintenance of proper adjustment of the gap or spacing of the cooperating switch elements.

Moreover, it has been found that the leg member of the field piece frequently becomes slightly out of adjustment with respect to the axis of the core. This condition takes place frequently during initial adjustment of the elements., or in handling, or due to the mounting of the relay,

as well as incident to and resulting from substantial operation of the armature. Such out of position of the leg of the eld piece relatively tothe core, usually results in causing the armature to be improperly positioned so as to prevent its being seated flat upon the end of the core. In cases where switch devices are employed and operated by the actuation of the armature, the spacing or gaps of the switch element become altered so as to impair the` timing operation of a circuit controlled by the switch devices.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved relay construction whichinsures maintaining the leg member or members of the fieldv piece in relatively fixed relation to the axis of the core and thereby obviates the foregoing difficulties and undesirable conditions.

Another object is to provide an improved relay structure of the character indicated, characterized by the provision of a panel of non-magnetic material formed with openings for a snug, telescopic fit upon the upper ends of the core and leg member of the field piece.

A further object is to provide an improved relay construction characterized by the provision of a panel of non-magnetic material adapted to be flxedly secured upon the upper end of the coil and connected to the upright leg of the iield piece for maintaining the leg of the field piece in substantially fixed relation relatively to the axis of the core.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a relay device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the relay structure;

Figure 3 is a, horizontal sectional View through the relay taken substantially as indicated at line 3 3 on Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a panel of non-magnetic material utilized in connection with the present invention.

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown.

in the drawing a form .of relay construction wherein the ileld piece is of generally U-shaped formation, including a pair of spaced apart upright legs and wherein a multiplicity of copper slugs is employed for eecting time delay actuation of the armature when the coil is energized by direct current. In the construction illustrated I have also shown a pair of switches carried on an extension of one leg of the field piece and mounted for control by actuation of the armature. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is readily adaptable to various types of relays for use either with alternating or direct current, or wherein the field piece is formed with one or two upright leg members disposed adjacent the coil, or wherein switch elements may be added as auxiliary structure to either leg of the field piece or partially on one leg of the field piece and partially on the armature per se, .or wherein time delay structure is either present or omitted. It is therefore to be understood that the type of relay shown in the drawing is illustrative of my invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the relay structure disclosed is for direct current operation and includes a eld piece IU of generally U-shaped formation including a pair of upright leg members Il and I2 disposed on diametrically opposite sides of and in straddling 

